My Aunt's book!!

This is my Aunt's book available at Amazon through the link above. It tells the story of how she coped through every parents worst nightmare, the death of her teenage daughter. My cousin Megan was about to start a swimming scholarship at college and had every chance of swimming for Great Biritain in an Olympic Games had she not been tragically killed in a car crash. The book is a very personal account of my Aunt Valerie's battle with life after this awful event.

Eczema Super Foods

As an eczema sufferer in order to help your skin you should avoid all foods that can have a negative effect on your skin such as junk foods, foods containing white flour and all foods containing red meat ( I love red meat and eat way too much of it for someone with eczema )

Superfoods are foods which contain high quality nutrients and they are usually uncooked and unprocessed.You can purchase these superfoods locally in your health food stores and or local supermarkets.
Three Foods to Change Your Eczema -

• Avocados are very useful for eczema skin because they contain useful omega 3 and omega 6. These can be eaten on a regular basis and will ensure good skin hydration.Avocados create stable energy and produce exceptional health.

• flax seed oil. Take one teaspoon three times per day. The best way to get your flaxseed oil is to buy flax seed and grind them yourself. This is the freshesh method of consuming your flax seed oil. Flax seed oil can change the way you feel and look almost instantly

• coconut oil. Coconut has the power to inhibit germs that are harmful and impede healing by weakening your immune system.It is great at boosting your immune system and eliminates skin problems like eczema because it converts your body into a powerful anti-microbial agent.

Eczema and Diet

Having helped my eczema a great deal by learning about my food intolerance's and allergies I have become much more interested in how healthy Living and eating help conditions which people otherwise find untreatable. I watched Amanda Hamilton's documentary called The Spa Of Embarrassing Diseases and this really opened my eyes to Holistic health. I found the following whilst looking more into this subject.

There are two main reasons why you are suffering with eczema. The first reason is because your body is overwhelmed with toxin and waste.The second reason you may suffer with a disease is because of insufficient nutrients caused by improper or insufficient diet. The main causes of this are (1) inadequate consumption of foods that supply healthy nutrients; (2) poor absorption where your digestive system has great absorption problems and (3) excessive loss of nutrient where nutrients are being used up to ward off other illnesses.If you do not eat the appropriate amount of, or quality of nutrients which make up a healthy diet over a long period of time you will suffer some sort of health crisis. When your body is suffering a health crisis it will produce symptoms that act as early warning signals. When you go to the doctor they will prescribe something, anything that will suppress these symptoms or warnings. But just like the rats in the underground tunnels, these symptoms become stronger and become immune to the treatments and drugs.Then, when you return to your doctor they will prescribe even stronger drugs and medicines.You need to look at the foods you are eating to ensure they are supplying your body with the important health enhancing nutrients that your body is crying out for.The foods that usually effect people who suffer with eczema are common. Deficiencies in essential fatty acids, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, Zinc, Calcium, vitamin B, Silica and Selenium to name just a few.With sufficient and regular supplies of these nutrients eczematous skin will begin to heal and disappear completely.

Feel Good Today

Well, I feel really good today, not at all agitated, haven't itched or scratched at all. My skin has died right down after being pretty sore for a few days and to be honest as per usual I have absolutely no idea why. The eczema has a mind of its own.

Herbal Treatments For Eczema: Do They Really Work?

Most of us are aware of the fact that the consumption of herbs is very beneficial in boosting our immune system thus helping your body to fight of the many diseases that we come into contact with on a daily basis, eczema is one of these diseases.

Herbal treatment for eczema concentrates on improving the functioning of the liver because a malfunctioning liver can result in disorders of the skin. For those who are suffering from eczema it is found that they will generally have immune systems that can best be described as weak which will also make them susceptible to contracting herpes, developing warts as well as being at risk of viral infections.

Herbal Treatment for eczema are available from various Sources From All Around The World

One of the fascinating things about herbal treatment for eczema is that they can come from all parts of the world be it from China or India or any other far off place on this planet.

For example a herbal treatment for eczema is found in the form of Milk Thistle which is very helpful in treating eczema as well as curing problems related to the liver, and the Indian plant known as Gotu Kola is simply a great salve that can be used to treat cracked and even broken skin thanks to its great healing powers.

Another example of herbal treatment for eczema is Pau D’arco which is often referred to as the herb that has immunity enhancing properties. This is derived from the bark of trees emanating from South America and only grown in that part of the world.

Some people like to get treatment for eczema from a form of licorice roots that can be obtained from many southern European countries as well as from China and India. Licorice roots are very effective in reducing swelling, in curing allergies as well as improving the functioning of the liver.

Another useful herbal treatment for eczema is Gamma Liolenic Acid (GLA) and some of the herbs in which GLA is found. These herbs include primrose oil, licorice root and also chamomile. However, when using primrose oil, you must be prepared to wait several months (ie. Six months or more) before the desired results become noticeable.

Primrose oil has become very popular in Europe, most Europeans use it to help them combat eczema and any other problems that they may be experiencing with their skin. There are a number of other herbs that are very effective in dealing with eczema including burdock, nettle, cleaver and red clover as also yellow dock that are ideal for use as a herbal treatment for eczema.

Obviously the existence of herbal treatments for eczema should be locatable from around the region in which you live, however, it is highly recommended that you contact a reputable herbalist or naturopath who can direct you as to which herbal treatment for eczema is best suited for your skin type and overall composition.

As with taking any form of medicine, it is necessary to keep an eye on any adverse reactions that may occur due to unforseen allergies etc. If these reactions occur immediately stop the herbal treatment and consult with your herbalist or naturopath. If you are under the guidance of your medical physician and taking prescription drugs it is wise to consult with this doctor before embarking on a course of herbal treatment for eczema.

Open eczema around my left eye. Time for a salt bath this morning!

Scratched my eczema in my sleep last night and have opened up a nasty little sore patch around my left eye. I will have a salt bath this morning as I find it very soothing and it prevents the skin from getting infected. I have salt baths 3 or 4 times a week. The sea salts I use can be found here Shop At ObeyYourBody.com.

our-eczema.com

I am so pleased with the way the website ( http://www.our-eczema.com/ )is starting to look during the construction. Rich the web designer is doing a great job. I would like to say thank you to all those people who have already submitted bio's for the 'your stories' section of the site. This is really important and hopefully we can really grow the site.

I must mention Parky, Diver and especially Ratty ( above )who put in great performances dancing around to Chas and Dave at the City Hall last night. Class acts. Fact!!

Jade's eczema support group.

http://www.freewebs.com/nescambs/

Eczema-Spamming-Muppet

Well I have been trying to get people to submit bio's for my website on facebook and have just been warned for spamming so will have to leave that for now. I have met a great girl on there who has made me an officer of her group about eczema and who is going to help advertise our-eczema.com so hopefully things can start to take off once the site has finished.
Jade if you are reading this. Good ol' girl.

Mental issues with Eczema!!!!

Caring friend??/how to help ( The Parky Technique )
Now we all know our friends and family care, and would do anything to help us, we know they are only concerned for our well being but sometimes the “ oh dear your skin looks really sore again “ or “oh mate your skin is bad bud “ is as bad as people staring or making comments in the street.
When I have eczema all over my neck and face I know how bad it is!! I do my jacket up to the top and put a cap on and walk along looking at the floor, if I have the confidence to go out the house at all. I feel like saying “ really I hadn't noticed the fact my face is bleeding and I can't stop scratching” but you you can't because you know they just don't understand the mental issues that go along with eczema and they only care.
For me the mental side of the eczema is the worst bit. I can put up with the itching and scratching and would deal with being covered in eczema as long as it wasn't on my face and neck and no one could see it. Call me shallow, but for me the worst bit is the fact when it flares up it's my face and neck that suffers the most and this intern hammers myself confidence and robs me of my personality and I can't stand it. Mentally it destroys me.
People not mentioning the eczema at all is better for me than the caring words as I want to try and forget about the fact it is there and try and get on as normal. However there is something even better and I am going to describe it as the Parky Technique after my mate Parky who regularly uses it. ( apologies to the others out there who know me who do the same but it really sticks in my mind with Parky maybe cos I see him a lot )
What is the Parky technique?? I hear you ask!!!.
Well he does the opposite and only mentions my skin when it is good, which is when most people forget I have eczema and carry on as normal. He often greets me in the pub or at work with “ Skin looks good at the mo mate “ or something along those lines and the effect it has mentally is more than anyone who does not have eczema will ever know!! It makes you grow. Feel good again.
I then have no worries and enjoy looking people in the eyes when I buy a newspaper or get asked the time in the street.
If your friend has eczema or your brother, sister, cousin,wife or girlfriend.....whoever, try the Parky technique it will make a big difference to them, it does to me!!!!

Eczema on my neck makes me look like a Turkey!

The eczema on my neck has left me looking like a Turkey today. I do not look good but I do not have to worry about facing anybody now that I am home from work, and its Champions League week this week so and can hit the sofa with my sky plus and chill. Sweet!.

Tired!!

Had a very restless night. Not sure what has caused my flare up this week really, I was stressed at work yesterday but my skin is the sorest its been for ages. I have been tea total since new year and I think that has really helped me but tossed and turned all night last night and I am not looking the best this morning!.

Scratched my eczema to bits today

Had a nightmare of a day at work today and got myself really stressed out with things not going to plan. I have scratched myself to bits on the way home in the van. I started gently itching around the edge of the dry skin on my neck and gradually got more in to it before going full throttle and turning myself in to a bloody mess. It was lovely at the time!!!!, but it is really sore now and I am even more stressed!! Time for a piriton!!!!.

Eczema.....what a nightmare

Hello, well this is my first post, I hope this finds you all well, The picture on the right 'Bad times' was taken 2 years ago when my eczema was at its worst. Things have improved for me a great deal since then. The main reason for this was finding out that I am allergic to dairy and intolerant to a number of common food types which I was eating regularly.
I now have much more control over my skin although it is still a constant battle and I am regularly fighting flare ups which for the life of me I cannot understand what caused them.
I am currently building a web site about my eczema and I hope to raise money for the National Eczema Society through my site.
The site will soon be available via this link http://www.our-eczema.com/
Cheers for now
Haircut.